-을/를

Overview

The particle -을/를 is a fundamental Korean case marker used to identify the direct object of a verb. It attaches directly to a noun or pronoun, signaling that the noun is the recipient of the action performed by the verb.

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Usage

-을/를 is essential for clarifying the grammatical role of a noun in a sentence, especially since Korean word order can be more flexible than English. It answers the question "what?" or "whom?" the verb's action is affecting. For example, in "I eat an apple," "apple" is the direct object, and in Korean, it would be marked with -을/를. While it can sometimes be omitted in very casual speech or when the context is abundantly clear, using -을/를 ensures precision and avoids ambiguity, making it crucial for clear communication.

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Conjugation Rules

The choice between -을 and -를 depends on the final sound of the preceding noun:

• Use -을 when the preceding noun ends in a consonant.
  • Example: 책 (chaek, book) + 을 → 책을
  • Example: 밥 (bap, rice) + 을 → 밥을
• Use -를 when the preceding noun ends in a vowel.
  • Example: 사과 (sagwa, apple) + 를 → 사과를
  • Example: 커피 (keopi, coffee) + 를 → 커피를

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Knowledge Plus

Understanding -을/를 is key to distinguishing between the subject and object in a sentence. While -이/가 marks the subject and -은/는 marks the topic, -을/를 specifically points to the direct object. Many transitive verbs (verbs that take a direct object) will naturally be followed by a noun marked with -을/를. Pay close attention to this particle when learning new verbs, as it helps identify their grammatical requirements.